Combination blower, trimmer and edger for tending vegetation

Abstract

An engine is connected to the upper end of a drive shaft housing and a work head with a string trimmer or blower or both is operatively connected to the lower end of the drive shaft housing and is rotatably driven by an engine rotating a drive shaft inside the drive shaft housing and connected to the working head. The drive shaft housing is rigidly connected to the working head and may be rotated about its longitudinal axis relative to the engine in any desired amount of rotation, but the preferred degree of rotation is 135° to move the working head from a trimming position with the rotating trimmer string in a horizontal position to an edging position with the rotating trimmer string in a vertical position and with the working head being displaced to the operator's right side for better viewing and control and operator comfort. In one embodiment, a gear driven crank handle is rigidly connected to the drive shaft housing and is itself rotated 135° as the drive shaft housing is rotated 135° to place the handle in a position that is comfortable to use. Further, the amount of air flowing through the blower is regulated by an air outlet regulating valve and a separate air intake regulating valve.

1 . A handle for yard trimmer having a shaft, the handle comprising:
 a fastening section configured to secure said handle to the shaft of the yard tool for conjoined movement with the shaft;   a top lobe having a hand grip and defining a first finger opening;   left-hand and right-hand lobes connected by and including an arcuate hand grip defining a second finger opening;   a left-hand spoke connecting said left-hand lobe to said top lobe; and   a right-hand spoke connecting said right-hand lobe to said top lobe.   
     
     
         2 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein said left-hand spoke and said right hand spoke extending from said fastening portion. 
     
     
         3 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein said top lobe is substantially straight. 
     
     
         4 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein said first finger opening is encircled by said top lobe, said left-hand-spoke and said right-hand spoke, and wherein said second finger opening is encircled by said arcuate hand grip, said left-hand lobe, said right-hand lobe, said left-hand spoke, and said right-hand spoke. 
     
     
         5 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein said first finger opening is smaller than said second finger opening. 
     
     
         6 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein said right-hand lobe and said left-hand lobe each include a hump. 
     
     
         7 . A combination yard tool and handle, the combination comprising:
 a yard tool shaft supported for rotation about an axis extending said yard tool shaft between first and second positions;   a handle fixedly attached to said yard tool shaft for conjoined rotation therewith; and   said handle comprising a fastening section fixedly securing said handle to said yard tool shaft, a top lobe having a hand grip and defining a first finger opening, a left-hand and a right-hand lobe connected by and including an arcuate hand grip defining a second finger opening, a left-hand spoke connecting said left-hand lobe to said top lobe, and a right-hand spoke connecting said right-hand lobe to said top lobe.   
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein said yard tool shaft is rotated into said first position said hand grip is disposed to be grasped by an operator of the yard tool, and said top lobe is disposed so as not to be grasped by the operator, and further wherein said yard tool shaft is rotated into said second position said top lob is disposed to be grasped by the operator and said hand grip is disposed so as not to be grasped by the operator. 
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein said left-hand spoke and said right hand spoke extending from said fastening portion. 
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein said first finger opening is encircled by said top lobe, said left-hand-spoke and said right-hand spoke, and wherein said second finger opening is encircled by said arcuate hand grip, said left-hand lobe, said right-hand lobe, said left-hand spoke, and said right-hand spoke. 
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein each of said right-hand lobe and said left-hand lobe comprise a hump. 
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein said humps are positioned and configured such that grasping either of said right-hand or said left-hand lobes by an operator causes discomfort to the operator, thereby preventing the operator from grasping either of said right-hand or said left-hand lobes. 
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein said top lobe is substantially straight.